Page 28 of Count the Cost (The Secrets of Elizabeth Bennet #2)
B eatrice Palmer watched as Mr. Darcy turned after listening to the footman. He saw her sitting alone, and seemed to take a deep breath before crossing the room to bow to her.
“Lady Palmer, how might I be of assistance?”
He was very reserved, she knew, but she wondered if he was also lacking in confidence beneath that veneer of competence.
“I was hoping you might sit with me and keep me company,” she said to him. “Lady Bedford sent Elizabeth to join the other ladies and then had to leave me to solve some difficulty with the housekeeper.”
He bowed again. “I would be honoured.” He sat in the chair beside her, rather cautiously, she thought, though a younger person might not have noticed. But she would not leave the boy too nervous.
“Tell me about yourself, Mr. Darcy. I have heard that you are the master of Pemberley and stand guardian to your younger sister, by which I deduce that you have sadly lost your parents at a young age.”
He gave her an odd look. “That is correct, my lady.”
She smiled, she could see he was trying not to look suspicious.
“Please do not be concerned; I am trying to learn about the new people here that I have not met before and you were the only one not already occupied in conversation.” She laughed lightly.
“You will see that I will be asking questions of everyone here, before too long.”
She saw him relax slightly, although he seemed not the sort to ever be comfortable with those he did not know well. Perhaps he would be more comfortable listening to her talk, rather than answering questions.
“I was but three and twenty when I lost my grandmother,” she said conversationally. “I was recently betrothed and the wedding had to be put off for my mourning. My future husband was not pleased.”
Mr. Darcy was looking at her oddly. “I am sorry for your loss, madam, even though it was so long ago.”
She smiled sadly. “It was such a shock to us all; I thought it was the end of the world, then. I had been raised by my grandparents, having lost my parents when I was very young. But life goes on, and over the years I have seen the loss of those even closer to me.” She glanced at him.
“Tell me, what was the most difficult part for you? — if you are not averse to remembering it.”
He seemed to sigh and his shoulders sagged.
“As you say, my lady, it was a tremendous shock. Especially my mother. I was only four and ten and away at school. I had not been informed that she had contracted scarlet fever, and I was not called home for fear I would become infected.” His voice dropped further.
“It took a long time for me to forgive my father for that.”
Beatrice winced. “I am sorry to have asked you to relive it.” She patted his arm. “I expect it was more difficult for you because as a youth, you were not expected to weep or show how affected you were.”
Mr. Darcy nodded. “That is true. I found myself very angry for a long time. Mother was the finest lady who ever lived. She did not deserve to die so young.”
She stayed silent for a while, allowing him to think about what had been said. Then she drew his attention back to her.
“I am grateful for what you told me, and your honesty. My youngest grandson is very angry and badly behaved, and I have not been able to understand why. He lost his mother two years ago when he was but twelve years old, and we all thought how well he had accepted it.”
Mr. Darcy was looking at her with evident sympathy. “My condolences for your further loss. Whether his mother was your daughter or your daughter-in-law, it must have been exceedingly hard to accept.”
Unlike herself, she found her eyes moistening.
But she could not allow herself to be maudlin.
That would not help this young man. She blinked hard, and nodded.
“Rebecca was my only daughter. She had not expected to have such a late child and the birth was too much for her.” She swallowed.
“I was not expecting it either, given that she was my youngest child and I had been even older than she when she was born.”
The young man looked rather embarrassed, and she changed the subject. “Did you find it very difficult, becoming master of Pemberley while still so young?”
He smiled slightly, possibly in relief. “I was fortunate that my father warned me that his time was nearing and over those last months gradually ensured I was able to take the reins of more and more of the work.” His sigh was audible.
“But it was difficult to discover that many of the men I had known for many years then tried to take advantage of my relative youth and exploit what they thought was my inexperience while I was still grieving Father’s loss. We had become very close.”
Beatrice considered what she had heard, and Darcy’s increasing discomfort.
She rather thought he had not revealed his feelings to anyone for a long time, and was surprised at his own openness.
But she was more able to draw out a person than most others; her age had given her that skill and she would use it to assist Elizabeth and Darcy, even though neither of them realised what she was doing.
“I thank you, Mr. Darcy, for your honesty. It has reassured me that you will hold Elizabeth’s past in confidence while you are here.” She allowed herself to smile mischievously. “Tell me, what do you think of her?”
Now Mr. Darcy looked cautious. “Miss Bennet is very comfortable in this company, just as she was in Hertfordshire. She seems to be able to comport herself well, wherever she finds herself.” His gaze went to Elizabeth, as it had frequently done since they had arrived.
He smiled very slightly. “Even among strangers. It is an enviable talent.”
Well, then! Beatrice would not pick up on that admission, and she doubted he even realised what he had said.
“You know, of course, that I found I was connected to her through her aunt in town. Have you heard that they are in trade?” She might as well discover if that was an insuperable objection before she went much further.
“I do, although I have not had the opportunity of meeting them. And, of course, everyone has heard of Gardiner’s business.”
“And wealth, no doubt.” Beatrice was still not certain Darcy approved of the connection to trade, although her own name might sway him a little.
He nodded. “It is a great surprise to me that you would acknowledge it so openly, my lady.”
“I know the Matlocks, and I doubt they would disapprove.”
“My aunt and uncle have been very kind and supportive to me and my sister over the years, but I find it difficult to agree with your statement, Lady Palmer. My aunt spends many hours parading suitable young ladies before me, and they would definitely not include someone with such close ties to trade.” There was a bleakness in his voice, and Beatrice understood that, whatever he might think, he was drawn to Elizabeth.
She must continue to watch him and talk to him whenever possible; he might well be suitable for her — but she must somehow be persuaded to think herself in the market for marriage.
“If they have supported you so well, I am sure they would wish you happy.” She must change the subject, before he withdrew, suspecting her of matchmaking. “Tell me, are you happier in the country, rather than town and at engagements like this?”